Hydrocarbon Detector Based on Carbon Nanotubes

Abstract

Hydrocarbon detectors having CNTs coated with an amphiphilic coating capable of sequestering an active molecule are provided. In one aspect, a hydrocarbon detection device is provided. The hydrocarbon detector device includes a plurality of CNTs dispersed in a polar solvent, wherein each of the CNTs is coated with an amphiphilic coating having molecules with a hydrophilic moiety and a hydrophobic moiety, and wherein the coating creates a hydrophobic environment proximal to a surface of each of the CNTs; and one or more hydrophobic active molecules sequestered in the hydrophobic environment proximal to the surface of each of the CNTs.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A hydrocarbon detection device, comprising:
 a plurality of carbon nanotubes dispersed in a polar solvent, wherein each of the carbon nanotubes is coated with an amphiphilic coating comprising molecules with a hydrophilic moiety and a hydrophobic moiety, and wherein the coating creates a hydrophobic environment proximal to a surface of each of the carbon nanotubes; and   one or more hydrophobic active molecules sequestered in the hydrophobic environment proximal to the surface of each of the carbon nanotubes.   
     
     
         2 . The hydrocarbon detector of  claim 1 , wherein the polar solvent is water. 
     
     
         3 . The hydrocarbon detector of  claim 1 , wherein the hydrophilic moiety is selected from the group consisting of: a hydroxamic acid, a hydroxamate, a carboxylic acid, a carboxylate, a sulfonic acid, a sulfonate, a phosphonic acid, and a phosphonate. 
     
     
         4 . The hydrocarbon detector of  claim 1 , wherein the hydrophobic moiety is selected from the group consisting of: an alkyl chain and a hydrophobic polymer. 
     
     
         5 . The hydrocarbon detector of  claim 1 , wherein the active molecules are selected from the group consisting of: iodomethane, iodobenzene, and tetrachlorobiphenylene. 
     
     
         6 . The hydrocarbon detector of  claim 1 , wherein the active molecules are labeled with a radioactive isotope. 
     
     
         7 . A method of forming a hydrocarbon detection device, comprising the steps of:
 (a) contacting carbon nanotubes with a solution comprising molecules with a hydrophilic moiety and a hydrophobic moiety solubilized in a polar solvent, wherein by way of the contacting step (a) the molecules interact with surfaces of the carbon nanotubes to form an amphiphilic coating on the surfaces of the carbon nanotubes which creates a hydrophobic environment proximal to a surface of each of the carbon nanotubes; and   (b) contacting the solution with one or more hydrophobic active molecules, wherein by way of the contacting step (b) the hydrophobic active molecules are sequestered in the hydrophobic environment proximal to the surface of each of the carbon nanotubes.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the polar solvent is water. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the hydrophilic moiety is selected from the group consisting of a hydroxamic acid, a hydroxamate, a carboxylic acid, a carboxylate, a sulfonic acid, a sulfonate, a phosphonic acid, and a phosphonate. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the hydrophobic moiety is selected from the group consisting of: an alkyl chain and a hydrophobic polymer. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the active molecules are selected from the group consisting of: iodomethane, iodobenzene, and tetrachlorobiphenylene. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the active molecules are labeled with a radioactive isotope. 
     
     
         13 . A method of forming a hydrocarbon detection device, comprising the steps of:
 (a) contacting carbon nanotubes with a solution comprising polymer precursors solubilized in a polar solvent, wherein by way of the contacting step (a) the polymer precursors interact with surfaces of the carbon nanotubes, modifying the surfaces of the carbon nanotubes with the polymer precursors;   (b) adding monomers to the solution, wherein by way of the adding step (b), the monomers will interact with the polymer precursors on the surfaces of the carbon nanotubes to form polymers on the surfaces of the carbon nanotubes with a hydrophilic moiety and a hydrophobic moiety, and wherein the polymers form an amphiphilic coating on the surfaces of the carbon nanotubes which creates a hydrophobic environment proximal to a surface of each of the carbon nanotubes; and   (c) contacting the solution with one or more hydrophobic active molecules, wherein by way of the contacting step (c) the hydrophobic active molecules become sequestered in the hydrophobic environment proximal to the surface of each of the carbon nanotubes.   
     
     
         14 . A method of hydrocarbon detection, comprising the steps of:
 preparing a solution comprising i) a plurality of carbon nanotubes dispersed in a polar solvent, wherein each of the carbon nanotubes is coated with an amphiphilic coating comprising molecules with a hydrophilic moiety and a hydrophobic moiety, and wherein the coating creates a hydrophobic environment proximal to a surface of each of the carbon nanotubes, and ii) one or more hydrophobic active molecules sequestered in the hydrophobic environment proximal to the surface of each of the carbon nanotubes wherein the active molecules are labeled with a radioactive isotope;   introducing the solution into one or more oil wells such that upon any exposure to hydrocarbons in the wells one or more of the hydrophobic active molecules are transferred from the hydrophobic environment proximal to the surface of the carbon nanotubes to the hydrocarbons;   collecting the solution once the solution has passed through the wells; and   analyzing radioactivity levels of the solution collected from the wells.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the polar solvent is water. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the hydrophilic moiety is selected from the group consisting of: a hydroxamic acid, a hydroxamate, a carboxylic acid, a carboxylate, a sulfonic acid, a sulfonate, a phosphonic acid, and a phosphonate. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the hydrophobic moiety is selected from the group consisting of: an alkyl chain and a hydrophobic polymer. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the active molecules are selected from the group consisting of: iodomethane, iodobenzene, and tetrachlorobiphenylene. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising the step of:
 determining a baseline radioactivity level of the solution prior to introducing the solution into the wells.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising the steps of:
 measuring radioactivity levels from the solution collected from the wells; and   comparing the radioactivity levels of the solution collected from the wells to determine whether hydrocarbons are present in any of the wells.   
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising the steps of:
 measuring radioactivity levels of the solution collected from the wells; and   determining an amount of hydrocarbons present in the wells based on the radioactivity levels of the solution collected from the wells, wherein the radioactivity levels are based on an amount of the hydrophobic active molecules which are transferred from the hydrophobic environment proximal to the surface of the carbon nanotubes to the soil surrounding the wells.